BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 9

BOXING

HUTT VALLEY TOURNAMENT

SOME INTERESTING BOUTS

A very successful amateur boxing tournament was held at Petone last evening under the auspices of the Hutt Valley Amateur Boxing Association. Some thirteen bouts were staged, and all were very strenuously contested. The acting officials were :—Referee, Mr. Earl Stewart i judges.. Messrs. W. S. Brice and E. Price; announcer, Mr, Orton Haddock ; stage manager, Mr. J. Dempsoy; timekeepers, Messrs. H. Jay and T. Blyth ; clerk of scales, Mr. H. Pickering; official seconds, Messrs. P. Edney and R. J. Smith.

Two clever mites in the brothers Bloomfield, Sid and.Stan, boxed three willing rounds in an exhibition bout. They were loudly cheered for their efforts.

W. Harman, lOst 7ilb> and D. Davies, list, 6taited off at a very fast clip, and' the former sent his opponent down with a hard right to/the head. Davies Tesorted to a good straight left, and evened up matters considerably in the subsequent rounds, but the decision went to Harman.

In the opening round of the bout between B, Corner, 9st, Petone, and F. Nixon, 9st 61b, Wellington, the latter carried the fight to his man and soon had him punching wildly. Corner livened up in the second lap, but was outfought andl out-boxed, losing the decision to a. more, experienced boxer.

The decision in the bout between Goddard, Sst 9£lb, Petone,' and Keith, Bst Hlb, Wellington, went to the latter after four close rounds. The initial stages were all in favour of the P«tone boy, but Keith livened up sufficiently towards the end to enable him to secure the verdict.

Little science was displayed, either by Humphreys, 9st 31b, or Cropp, 9st ll^lb, bnfc both lads stood toe to-toe and traded punches right merrily. The lighter boy boxed well, but Cropp carried too many guns for him, and received the decision.

Enthusiasts did not hesitate to voice their disapproval when P. Ryan, 6st 81b, Petone, lost the verdict to F. Norris, 6st 111b, Wellington. The boys, however, gave a very creditable display, and their efforts met with general approval. Hard and frequent hitting characterised the clash between Wood, I'.tt 31b, Wellington, and M. Moran, 10si 21b; Petone. Down twice in the fiVst round, Moran- with., difficulty managed to weather a heavy storm of blows 'intil round three, when he stopped a haid right swing to' the point, fell, and hit his head on tlie floor. He rose gamely ai the count of nine, but he bore such a disinterested expression that the referee stopped the bout.

Bob Hollis, lOst 111b, conceded four pounds in weight to W. Steward, and scored a technical knock-out over him in a special five-rounds bout. Steward, lacking in condition, endeavoured in the opening session, to take a 3hort cut to victory, but Hollis was willing to mix matters, and some very lively passages followed. The lighter man held the advantage - throughout, and punished l-.is opponent so severely that the referee intervened and decided in favour of Hoi. lis. • • ':>

J._ Cotterell, 6st, proved too clever for Mullins, sst 111b, and the latter sided the towel at the end of the first lap.. A rather uninteresting display between J. Bums, 9st 9ilb, and M. J. Power, lOst, resulted in. a win on points for. the latter, who used his weight to advantage. ' '

. A scientific display was given by R. Green, Bst 1341b, and J. Hobbs, Bst 111b, who were very evenly matched, and boxed well over the three rounds. The clean hitting by Hobbs earned for him tlie judges' vote. Using his .longer Teach to good effect, M. Carroll, 7st ll^lb, rather easily outpointed Sanders, 7st 111b. » It was a lively little affair, the only possible decision, going to Carroll.. A special bout over five .rounds, between E. Scott, 9st £lb, ■Wellington, and W. Barnes, 9st, Petone, resulted in a win on points for the suburban man. Scott, who did not box up to form, did not appear to be able to get going, and was mostly on the'defensive. The filial lap was fairly even, but the correct decision went to Barnes.